Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 7.
As soon as The White Lotus Season 3’s atmospheric theme song and title sequence close out in Episode 7, the screen is replaced with a brief, enigmatic view of fighters in a ring, adorned by garlands and on their knees, preparing for their fight. This image of confrontation reflects the highly anticipated showdowns in this episode, which have been hinted at since the Season 3 premiere. Rick (Walton Goggins) is in Bangkok, on the cusp of meeting the man who has haunted his subconscious ever since his mother’s death; the gossiping trio are isolated to their own vicious drama; two Ratliff siblings are sampling the waters of spirituality before committing; and the rest of The White Lotus cast have received invitations to a dinner party hosted by the elusive Greg/Gary (Jon Gries) where many of their storylines converge.
Laurie Dates a Thief in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Episode 7

Image via HBO

With Laurie (Carrie Coon) airing out her concerns about Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) during the previous episode, the atmosphere between these three long-time friends is now thick with tension during their dinner. Laurie tries to lighten the mood by talking about attending the Muay Thai competition, while Jaclyn rolls her eyes and glares incessantly, leaving Kate (Leslie Bibb) to awkwardly and silently sit in the middle of the icy air. When the tightrope act finally snaps, their real thoughts and opinions about each other are turned loose — Laurie is a steaming mess, Jaclyn is selfish and vain, and Kate has a faux-perfect front.
After that heated dinner, Laurie decides to go to the Muay Thai tournament herself, meeting Valentin’s (Arnas Fedaravicius) friends there too. Up until this point, glimpses of the fight had been littered throughout the episode, but The White Lotus now contextualizes this as we watch Laurie in the stands screaming her head off beside Valentin’s companions. However, she is not the only main character present, as Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) and Mook (Lalisa Manobel) are also on their first date. They originally were browsing and eating street food together, but after Gaitok’s admission of being uncomfortable with violence and using a gun, Mook takes him to the fight. While she is trying to show him that Buddhist teachings can be adapted to the modern world, he notices Valentin’s friends and recognizes them as masked men who committed armed robbery in Episode 3. A brief flashback confirms all three of their roles, with Valentin distracting Gaitok so the other two could drive in unimpeded, then the brief struggle where Gaitok hurt his head.
While Gaitok sits with this revelation and his lessons in violence, Laurie leaves the fight with Aleksei (Julian Kostov), clearly put off by Valentin after his involvement with Jaclyn. After they sleep together, Aleksei opens up to Laurie about overstaying his visa and not being able to return to Thailand if he leaves, so he needs $10,000 to bring his mother over here. Though she is uncertain and empathetic, she reluctantly agrees to wire him the money, but before anything is confirmed, the woman from the beach club who yelled at Aleksei interrupts them by banging on the door. Panicked, Laurie hides in the closet and looks for an escape, jumping out the window before the furious woman can catch her. But just before she leaves, she spies a collection of golden jewelry, including the snake necklace they stole from the hotel, and realizes he must’ve been trying to con her for money.
‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Episode 7 Spends an Uncomfortable Night at the Monastery

Image via HBO

With all his memories firmly back in his head, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) uses double the effort to listen to the monk’s speech about non-violent teachings in Buddhist culture. He is still at the monastery with Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), but when they are all wrapped up with their day, Lochlan confesses to Piper that he also wants to spend a year at the monastery.
While he hesitantly lays out the reasons for his decision, Piper has a strange, muted reaction to it. When Lochlan asks what’s wrong, she quickly dismisses his concerns and leaves for her own room. There, she lies down on the thin mattress and looks around uncertainly at the leaking pipes and bare environment. Were Victoria’s (Parker Posey) instincts right? While we are left to ponder Piper’s reaction, Victoria is in her comfy villa bed, praying that Jesus will “save” her little girl from Buddhism.

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‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Episode 7 Invites Us to the Dinner Party From Hell

The last person we expected to accept Greg’s invitation was Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), but after her son Zion’s (Nicholas Duvernay) insistence to get it over and done with, she relented. She captures Greg’s attention almost immediately, and he ushers her into an unwilling private conversation without Zion around. Here, Greg admits to his identity and relationship with Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), but insists that he is innocently in Thailand trying to get away from his grief. He undermines the proclamation of innocence by essentially bribing Belinda to keep quiet with $100,000. She agrees to think about it and quickly returns to the hotel with Zion, forcing the poor man to leave his free food untouched. Upon hearing about the offer, Zion encourages his mother to take it, seeing it as a better option than both of them ending up potentially dead, but this time, Belinda stands her ground and wants to do the right thing instead.
In another section of the mansion, Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) is trying to connect with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) on a deeper level, but is failing as she recalls falling in love with Rick due to an insatiable need to fix him and his inherent sadness. When Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) enters the conversation, it takes a dark and twisted turn as she propositions Saxon by explaining Gary’s alleged erotic fantasies. According to Chloe, Gary’s parents would have sex with the door open, leading to the young boy inconspicuously watching. After many failed relationships that broke due to cheating accusations by Gary, he realized he wanted to watch his partner have sex with someone else, then return to him — metaphorically reclaiming his mother. Saxon responds to this Oedipal cuckolding proposition with vehement disgust and eventually returns home with Chelsea. He is eager to learn about spirituality, and Chelsea is an enthusiastic teacher, but a thawed moment between them during meditation leads to Chelsea freaking out, tossing books at him and shooing him out while she tries calling Rick for the umpteenth time.
Before Saxon leaves the party, he does have another confrontation with his father (Jason Isaacs). As per usual, Timothy is taking pills, but this time it doesn’t escape the attention of his son. Saxon pulls him aside while Timothy is musing about the “legit” monk he left Piper with and asks why he isn’t acting like himself. More specifically, he questions his father about the company and if there is anything wrong with it — as his inheritance, he should know about any issues. As Saxon stresses about how his entire identity is wrapped up in his success at the company (especially after the yacht incident that demolished his sexual confidence), Tim is drowning in even more guilt, struck poignantly by Saxon’s words. However, eyes still glazed, he just smiles and reassures his son. But later at night, once they are all back at the hotel, Timothy’s daydreams have escalated even further. Now, he shoots Saxon, Victoria, and himself in quick succession. Troubled by his thoughts, he goes to grab the gun he hid in the drawers — the one Gaitok stole back — only to find it empty.
Rick Confronts His Father’s Murderer in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 Episode 7

The White Lotus Season 3 has been hinting at Rick’s mission from the very first episode, and now, we finally watch Rick come face to face with Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), his father’s murderer. As per Rick and Frank’s (Sam Rockwell) plan, they enter the house under the ruse of casting Sritala (Patravadi Mejudhon) in “director Steve’s” next big film. Completely under-prepared, they sit down and bumble their way through filmographies and inspirations until Rick pretends to be interested in Jim’s business chops and requests a private audience. So, while Frank flirts and breaks his sobriety to try and keep up pretenses while watching Sritala’s old clips, Rick is in a room alone with Jim.
He walks around the room thoughtfully, asking Jim about how he used to conduct business and the lack of red tape that was around during his time. As they begin inching closer to what Rick really wants to talk about, he turns away and produces a gun that was hidden in his clothing, one that he promised Frank he wouldn’t bring. He asks if Jim remembers his mother’s name, Gloria Hatchett, and her husband, who he had killed over “some land deal.” At the height of the moment, Rick points the gun at Jim and promises that even if Jim doesn’t remember his father, he will remember Rick. But as he is staring at the wide-eyed man, one who put his arms up in terror every time Rick lunged forward in a feint, he realizes that Jim truly was just a pathetic old man, not the killer he built him up to be in his fantasies.
Underwhelmed by the climax of this confrontation, Rick simply pushes Jim and his chair over, leaving him to awkwardly lie on the floor as Rick and Frank make their hurried escape. Having somewhat achieved his goal, Rick and Frank fully kill the latter’s sobriety and go “paint the town red.” The last time we see Rick, he is in a hotel room with Frank and a group of topless women, grinning manically.
The Season 3 finale of The White Lotus premieres next Sunday on HBO and Max.

The White Lotus

The White Lotus Season 3 Episode 7 brings us highly anticipated confrontations that take unexpected turns.

Release Date

2021 – 2024

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Mike White

Directors

Mike White

Pros & Cons

Walton Goggins’ performance is a highlight as Rick finds out his revenge dream is underwhelming.
The White Lotus balances humor and suspense in a way we have been missing this season.
As it ramps up for the finale, the series answers cathartic questions while building anticipation.